Question S.M.A.R.T backup warning - ssd replacement

[shemaze21]

I have been getting the disk warning to backup and replace. I have a samsung mznlf128hchp-0004 in my Asus ROG GL552VW-DH74 laptop. Here's a Link to error and diskinfo. I also tried seatools and it failed the smart test.

I am looking to replace this M2.2880 formfactor and SATA III ssd.

My knowledge about choosing a SSD is very very preliminary. I came across Samsung 860 EVO.. Will the Samsung 960 work despite NVME PcLe or am I restricted to SATA iii?

Wondering if I could get suggestions/recommendations on a suitable replacement ( higher capacity).

My system and program files reside in this file. I created a recovery disk. Is that enough or should I be creating an image?

Thanks in advance

 

[USAFRet]

It is currently a SATA drive, m.2
The 860 EVO M.2 will be a direct drop in replacement.

I wouldn't count on a 960/970 NVMe drive to work, unless that M.2 port is absolutely verified to be compatible.

Yes, a full drive Image is far far better than a simple 'recovery disk'.

 

[USAFRet]

But, if the current drive is having issues, a full drive Image or clone may not be the best option.
Any corrupted files on it would just be moved to the new drive.

Or, the imaging/cloning operation may just quit when it gets to the failing sectors.

 

[SkyNetRising]

SATA SSD will work for sure.
NVME might not work (specs mention only sata M.2 support).

 

[shemaze21]

But, if the current drive is having issues, a full drive Image or clone may not be the best option.
Any corrupted files on it would just be moved to the new drive.

Or, the imaging/cloning operation may just quit when it gets to the failing sectors.

That was my thinking as well- about the corrupted files getting moved to the new ssd.

 

[shemaze21]

Ok am confused..recovery disk is not enough? What should I do?

I don't think I have a disk to do a clean install.

 

[USAFRet]

Ok am confused..recovery disk is not enough? What should I do?

I don't think I have a disk to do a clean install.

From a working PC, you can create your own Win 10 USB to install with.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then you can do a full clean install on a new replacement drive, the potential 860 EVO M.2.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

A "Recovery" disk" is not the entirety of the contents of your current drive.
It may be just enough to try to "fix " a corrumpted install. But not if that is on a physically failing device, like you have now.

 

[shemaze21]

From a working PC, you can create your own Win 10 USB to install with.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then you can do a full clean install on a new replacement drive, the potential 860 EVO M.2.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

A "Recovery" disk" is not the entirety of the contents of your current drive.
It may be just enough to try to "fix " a corrumpted install. But not if that is on a physically failing device, like you have now.

Thanks. I'll do a system image.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks. I'll do a system image.

If you are doing a fresh install on the new drive, you do not need a "system image".

 

[shemaze21]

So I got the 860 EVO SSD installed and did a clean installation of Windows 10.

Am really struggling to find the missing drivers that show up as other devices.See screenshot I have installed whatever I could from the https://www.asus.com/us/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-GL552VW/HelpDesk_Download/ including updating the bios to v.304.

It's also weird that the firmware in device manager displays " no driver files have been loaded"..

What am I missing? Since my other SSD is still alive, I can maybe do a system image?
Eager to hear any advice on this..

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

So I got the 860 EVO SSD installed and did a clean installation of Windows 10.

Am really struggling to find the missing drivers that show up as other devices.See screenshot I have installed whatever I could from the https://www.asus.com/us/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-GL552VW/HelpDesk_Download/ including updating the bios to v.304.

It's also weird that the firmware in device manager displays " no driver files have been loaded"..

What am I missing? Since my other SSD is still alive, I can maybe do a system image?
Eager to hear any advice on this..

Thanks

You can't do any imaging or cloning until all drives actually work properly.

Is this 860 EVO working properly?

 

[shemaze21]

You can't do any imaging or cloning until all drives actually work properly.

Is this 860 EVO working properly?

Yes it appears to be working properly.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes it appears to be working properly.

OK.
And your next step is?

Not a simple 'system image', but look into a real backup routine.

 

[shemaze21]

OK.
And your next step is?

Not a simple 'system image', but look into a real backup routine.

My data resides in the 2.5" SATA HDD and is backed up.

My next step: I am just trying to get various drivers installed. And many are missing as shown in the screenshot...